Twisting and winding machine drive system



Nov. 20, 1951 J. A. TRUITT TWISTING AND WINDING MACHINE DRIVE SYSTEMFiled Dec. 22, 1950 INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. TRU/TT 44 TTORNE Patented Nov.20, 1951 2.575.410 I I TWISTING AND WINDING MACHINE naive SYSTEM JosephA. Truitt, West Chester, Pa., assignmto American Viscose Corporation,Wilmington, DeL, a corporation Delaware Application December 22, 1950,Serial No. 202,169

1 This invention relates to strand take-up devices and particularly toimprovements in slipdrive power transmission system for drivingstrand-winding machines.

The present invention is applicable to winding equipment wherein thestrand is positively engaged and delivered at a predetermined rate to atake-up system having a slip-drive connection with asource of rotativepower. The takeup system will generally take the form of apackage-holder supported in coaxial relationship with a driving spindle.Power is transmitted 7 Claims. (CI. 5758) from the spindle to the holderthrough a slipdrive system such as a magnetic clutch. The package holderis adapted to receive a bobbin, package core, or other carrier ontowhich the strand may be collected, and to prevent such carrier fromrotating relatively to the holder during application of a forcetangentially to the package resulting from the tension in the strandbeing wound thereonto. As examples of the slip-drive connections thatmay be used in such a winding machine the connection may take the formof a magnetic clutch, fluid couplings, such as well known fluid driveand hydraulic torque convertor transmissions, in which a driving rotorand a driven rotor are adjustably axially separable, ora friction typeclutch wherein the pressure between the driving and driven members isregulated by axial movement of a package holder and a resilient memberinterposed between the holder and the driven member of the clutchsecured thereto.

When, in such winding equipment, the strand delivery device and thesource of power such as a driving spindle are-in positive driverelationship, the take-up system. because of the inertia load it imposeson the slip-drive transmission is apt to lag the strand delivery devicein accelerating to normal operating speeds during starting periods. Atsuch times, instead of sufficient tension being present in the strand,slack may be produced between the strand delivery device and the take-upsystem to cause the strand to become tangled, the equipment fouled, orits operating efllciency otherwise impaired. Substantial uniformity ispreferred in :the tension imposed on the strand so that packages thereofwill have uniform quality and be uniformly responsive to subsequentprocessing treatments.

It isan object of the present invention to provide a strand take-upmeans for a winding machine adapted for producing substantially uniformtension in the strand at normal operating speeds and to produce at leastsome tension in the strand during a period such as when the machine isaccelerated from a state of restlto normal operating speed. It is alsoan object to provide a winding machine having a package holder connectedwith a driving means by a slipdrive torque transmission which may beregulated to provide substantial tension in the strand at practicallyall speeds of the machine and particularly when the machine is startingfrom rest and accelerating to an operating speed. It is another objectto provide an easily operated systern within a winding machine fortemporarily obtaining close spacing resiliently separabletorque-transmitting members'of a tron such as a magnetic clutch so as toincrease the torque capacity of the transmission at lower rotativespeeds than employed in normal operation. Other objects. features andadvantages will be apparent from the following description of theinvention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is anelevation, partly in section. of a twister; and

Fig. 2 is a section view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 takenalong line IIII.

The present invention comprises the combination of a winding machinehaving a strand package holder connected with a power source by aslip-drive torque transmission responsive to the weight of the packagesupported on the holder. and latching mechanism for temporarilymaintaining ,an adjustment of the torque sion to obtain high torquecapacity until a predetermined rotative speed of the holder is reachedwhereupon the latch mechanism is operated centrifugally to restore theadjustment of the transmission to that corresponding to the weight ofthe package. The latch mechanism is resiliently urged to latchingposition- When the holder is forced in a direction parallel to its axisof rotation to such a position-as to bring the transmission into anadjustment corresponding to a desired torque capacity of thetransmission, the

latching mechanism snaps into latched position. At a predetermined speedof rotation of the hold- 'er, the mechanism is" actuated by centrifugalconstituting the present invention. The twister comprises three separateassemblies which are rotatably independent of each other. One of a theseassemblies comprises a main driving spindle I. a spindle extension 8, apulley I, a flyer 8, a dish-shaped guard l I, a belt pulley 8 and amagnetic clutch member l8. Another assembly which is rotatably supportedon the spindle 8 may be identified generally as the package holderassembly and comprises a base member ll of the package holder, an innersleeve member I! supported on the spindle by bearings 11 and II, amagnetic clutch element 28 and a spring 21 resting on a shoulder 23 ofthe sleeve l5 and engaging a shoulder 24 within the tube portion 22 ofthe base ll. The third assembly of the twister comprises a cagerotatably supported on the spindle 5 by bearings 28 and 21, areciprocable strand guide 28, a cam-operated traversing mechanism 29 forthe guide responsive to a cam Ha on the base ll of the package holder. atop plate 30 for the cage, a pair of capstan rolls 3| rotatablysupported on the top-plate, said top-plate having a tubular portion 32in bearing relationship with the tubular portion 22 of the packageholder, and a weight 33.

As shown in Figure 1, the hollow driving spindle 5 and the hollowspindle extension 8 are joined in a tongue-and-groove joint 35. However,as perfect coaxial alignment of the spindle extension 6 with the spindle5 is dimcult to obtain, any coupling permitting some misalignment may beused, if desired, to join the extension 6 and the spindle 5, such as anOldham coupling, a jaw coupling, or the various conventional flexiblecouplings, provided they are apertured or hollow through the center topermit passage of strand longitudinally through the spindle 5 and theextension 5.

i The twisting machine illustrated in the drawing is of the down-twistertype and suitable for receiving a single strand or a group of strandspassed to the twister from a gathering device or thread guide 38supported centrally over the twister. The strand or group of strands 38passes downwardly through a balloon formed in the strand between thestationary guide 39 and the fiyer I which revolves the strand about thetwisters. The strand 33 then passes into the flyer and upwardly throughthe spindle 5 into the hollow spindle extension 6, over a pulley l8, andaround the rolls 3| which positively forward the strand to the guide 28over a pulley II. The strand 38 then passes onto a bobbin 42. The roll3la is supported on a shaft 44 which also supports a pulley. A belt 41extending around the pulleys I and 45 connects the roll 3la in driverelationship with the spindle extension 6. w

The twister is ordinarily supported with the axis of its spindleinclined at a small angle from the vertical so that the weight 33 willhold the cage 25 and portions of the twister mounted thereon fromrevolving about the axis. When the twister is supported with this axisin vertical alignment, a magnetic system (not shown) such as commonlyused in multiple-twist types of twisters, may be used to hold the cageassembly from turning.

The package holding assembly, however, is Dermitted to turn and is, infact, deliberately driven, preferably in a manner to maintain uniformtension in the portion of the strand 38 extending between the bobbin l2and the rolls 3|. Slack is tn..- kept out of this portion of the strandto prevent fouling and to produce a package in which all the yarn isimpressed with uniform tension and/or stretching. The guide 28 istraversed in a direction parallel to the axis of the mechanism 29comprising the reverse-threaded shaft 50, a ratchet wheel 5|, a pawl 52for engaging the ratchet wheel, lever 53 for working the pawl, a bracket54 for pivotably supporting the lever at 55. The lever 53 isreciprocated on its pivot by engagement of the end portion 53a thereofwith the cam surface Ila projecting radi-' ally outwardly from theperimeter of the holder base M; a spring 58 acts on the lever 53 toreturn the pawl after each engagement of the lever by the cam surface.

The holder member I4 is free to move in a direction parallel to the axisof the spindle with its tubular portion 22 in sliding contact with thesleeve member l5 supported directly on the spindle 5. However, downwardmovement of the member ll relative to the member I! is resisted by thespring 2| resting on a shoulder 24 of the member 15 and engaged by ashoulder of tube portion 22. The spring 21 is so constructed that it isreadily deflected or compressed by increases in weight of the strandmaterial accumulated on the package holder. The strength of the spring isuch that its deflection in response to increases in the weight of thepackage is approximately proportional to the torque needed to maintainthe tension substantially constant in the strand 38 passing onto thebobbin 42. The increase in the torque required is also proportional tothe radius of the peripheral surface of the growing package because ofthe increased moment arm applied to the package by tension in the strand38.

When the twister starts from rest in the beginning of the packagingoperation, the bobbin is normally empty and the holder member Ipositionedat its highest level during the winding operation. Because ofthe rapid acceleration of the spindle 5 as power is applied to thetwister, and the considerable inertia of the package holder assembly inaccelerating to operating speed (this operating speed, measured inrevolutions per minute, being determined by, and in inverse proportionto, the amount of strand collected on the bobbin), the strand 38 isforwarded by the rolls 3| at a faster rate than the bobbin can take up,the strand, the Spacing between the clutch elements ill and 20 beingthat normally corresponding to the weight of the package and packageholder. Sufficient torque, however, can be exerted through the magneticclutch if the clutch member 20 is forced below its normal positioncorresponding to the weight of the package, to a position wherein themagnetic forces between the clutch members are stronger than thatnecessary to maintain suitable tension in the strand at operating speed.

For this purpose, a plurality of latch members 60 are suspended from thelower surface of the holder member H. The members 68 are pivotable andportions thereof swing radially inwardly under .the lower end surface ofthe member l5 ahen the holder member II is suiliciently depressed. Thelatch members 50 are each suspended on pins 61 which extend upwardlyinto the holder member I in threaded relationship as shown or by othersuitable means of securement. A coil spring 52 surrounds each pin withone end thereof secured to the bottom of the member I4 and the other endsecured to the latch member 60 so as to urge the latch member intoengagement into a position in which an extension 53 thereof is radiallyinwardly of the peripheral edge 64 of the flanged end-portion 55 of theholder member l5 when the holder member M is slimabout pins ii isrestricted to a range-limited by the spacing of a pair of fingers 68 and01 which I engage a pin 88 secured to the lower surface of the holdermember ll. The members may be provided with weighted portions III of anymass required to produce a desired response of the latch members tocentrifugal force. If desired, they may be made in a form permittingready detachment from the rest of the latch member and provided in avariety of weights so that the latch members may be weighted to respondto difierent speeds of rotation of the holder. I1 desired, the members60 may be adjustably mounted with respect to the lower surface of themember [4 so that they may be moved toward or away from the surface suchasby providing lock nuts and extended threads on the portions of pins 8I in threaded relationship with the member It. By this expedient, themembers 60 may be positioned toward or away from the member I so thatthe spacing of the magnetic clutch members may be varied in accordancewith the variation in the inertia load applied to the clutch as imposedby bobbins and package cores of difierent weights.

Such a latching system may be employed on winding devices of any type inwhich movement of a package holder in a direction parallel to the axisor a spindle for supporting it is utilized to vary the torque capacityof a slip-drive transmission in response to the weight of the packagesupported on the holder thereon. The magnetic clutch describedhereinabove is merely illustrative of other torque transmission deviceswhich may be used in winding machines and to which the invention isapplicable.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be underholder being axially movable with respect tothe I spindle, a slip-drive magnetic clutch comprising two spacedrotatable members, one member being 7 attached to the spindle and onebeing operatively connected to the holder, said members having saidspindle axis as their axis of rotation, resilient means for supportingthe holder at a predetermined level, the resilient means being.

yieldable to permit descent of the holder to a progressively lower levelin accordance with the weight of a package supported on the holderwhereby the space between the rotatable members is correspondinglyreduced and the torque capacity of the transmission is varied inversely.speed of the holder.

3. In a winding device having an upwardly extending driving spindlehaving an axis of rotation,

a strand package holder mounted on the spindle and rotatable withrespect thereto, the holder being axially movable with respect to thespindle, -a slipdrive torque transmission comprising spaced rostoodthatchanges and variations may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a winding device having an upwardlyextending driving spindlerotatable with respect to an axis; a strand-package holder rotatablymounted on the spindle, the holder being axially movable with respect tothe spindle, a slip-drive torque transmission comprising spacedrotatable members, one member being attached to the spindle and onebeing operatively connected to the holder, said members having thespindle axis as their axis of rotation, resilient means .ior supportingthe holder when empty at a predetermined starting level, the resilientmeans being yieldable to permit descent of the holder to a progressivelylower level in accordance with the diameter of a package supported onthe holder whereby the space between the rotatable members iscorrespondingly reduced and the torque capacity of the. transmission isvaried in- I tatable members, one member being attached to the spindleand one being attached to.the holder, said members having the spindle,axis as their axis of rotation, resilient means for supporting theholder at a predetermined level, the resilient means being yieldabletopermit descent of the holder to a progressively lower level inaccordance with the weight of a package supported on the holder wherebythe space between the rotatable members is correspondingly reduced andthe torque capacity of the transmission is varied inversely to themagnitude of the spacing, latch means for securing the holder in apredetermined lower position with respect to the spindle in oppositionto the resilient means urging the holder upwardly, and a centrifugallyoperated means for releasing said latch means at a predetermined speed01 the holder. g

4. In a winding device having an upwardly extending driving spindlehaving an axis of rotation, a strand package holder mounted on thespindle and rotatable with respect thereto, said .hc'ider comprising twoconcentric sections of which one is axially movable with respect to theother section, a slip-drive torque transmission comprising spacedrotatable members, one mem-' her being attached to the spindle and onebeing operatively connected with the axially movable section, saidmembers having said spindle axis their axis of rotation, resilient meansfor supporting the axially movable section at a predetermined level withrespect to the spindle and the other section, the resilient means beingyieldable to permit descent of the axially movable section to aprogressively lower level in. accordance with the weight of the packagesupported on the holder whereby the space between the rotatable memhersis correspondingly reduced and the torque capacity of the transmissionis varied inversely J 7 a strand package holder being axially movablewith respect to the spindle, said holder compris ing two sections ofwhich one section is in'bearing relationship with the spindle and theother is axially movable with respect to the first-named section, aslip-drive magnetic clutch comprising spaced rotatable members of whichone member is attached to the spindle and one is attached to the weightin a package being collected thereon.

whereby the space between the rotatable memhers is correspondinglyreduced and the torque capacity of the clutch is varied inversely tothe' magnitude'oi the spacing, latch means moun ed,

on. one o! the sections for securing the movable section in apredetermined lower position with respect to the first-named section andthe spindle in oppositiomto the resilient means urging the the movablesection, said members having said spindle and passing it to thereciprocable guide means, and means rotatably mounted on the spindle forsupporting the reciprocable guide means and the strand-receiving means.

'I .In. a down twister having an upwardly extending hollow drivingspindle, a flyer mountedon the spindle and having a strand passageway incommunication with the interior of the spindle, a strand package holderrotatably mounted on the-spindle, said holder comprising a section inbearingrelationship with the spindle and a section ior engaging the endof a strand package. the latter section being axially movable withrespect to the other section, a slip-drive magnetic clutch com risingspaced rotatable members, one member ing attached to the axially movablesec.- tion and the other being attached to the spindle, said: membershaving said spindle axis as their axis of rotation, one of said memberscomprising magnetized elements spaced along a circle ,centered withrespect to the spindle with adjacent elements having opposite polarity,the other memmaterial spaced in an axial direction from the axiallymovable section upwardly, andcentrii'u magnetized elements, resilientmeans mounted galiy operated means for releasing sin-id latch.v

means at a predetermined speed of theholders 6. In a down twister havingan upwardly ex-. tending hollow driving spindle, a nyercseeuredto thespindle with a thread passageway thereof in communication with theinterior of the spindle, a package-holder mounted on-the spindle-androtatable with respect thereto. said package-holder: comprising twoconcentric sections of which one is in bearing relationship with thespindle and ,the

other section is axially movable with respect to the first-namedsection, a slip-drive torque transmission comprising spaced rotatablemembers, one

member being attached to the spindle and one being attached to theaxially movable section, said members having said spindle axis as theiraxis oi rotation, resilient means mounted on the matnamed section forsupporting the movable section at a predetermined level, the resilientmeans being. yieldable to permit descent oi. the axially movable sectionto progressively lower levels in accordance with the weight of thepackage being built thereon whereby the space between the rotatablemembers is correspondingly reduced and the torque capacity to thetransmission is varied inversely to the magnitude of the spacing, latchmeans mounted on one of the sections for securing the axially movablesection in a predetermined lower position with respect to the othersection and the spindle in opposition to the resilient means urging theaxially movable section upwardly. centrii'ugally operated means forreleasing said latch means at a predetermined .speedoi'the holder, meansreciprocating lengthwise or the holder for guiding the strand toward theholder, means for receiving the stand from the hollow on the first-namedsection, for supporting the axially movable section at a predeterminedlevel, 1

tile -resilient means being yieldable to permit descent of the axiallymovable section to a progresslvely lower level in accordance with theweight oi a package supported on the holder whereby the space betweenthe clutch members is correspondingly reduced and the torque capacity ofthe transmission is varied inversely to the magnitude .oif the. spacing,latch means for securing the axially movable section at a predeterminedlower positive relative to the other section in opposition to theresilient means urging the holder inwardly, spring means urging thelatch means into latched position, centriiugally operated means forreleasing said latch means at a predetermined speed of the holder, meansfor guiding the strand toward the holder, means for reciprocating theguide lengthwise of the holder, means for receiving the strand from thehollow spindle and positlvelyiorwarding it to the reciprocable guidemeans, and means rotatably mounted on the spindle for supporting thereciprocable guide means and the forwarding means.

JOSEPH A. TRUI'I'I.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowlng references are oi record in the file 0!this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

